WAR - PEPERANGAN

Cold Hard Figures in War.

September 29th, 2014 | by hqanon

ECONOMY

3

Written by: Anonymous Watcher

In light of the Military Industrial Complex, it is worth noting the 25 largest companies in the American Defense arena, and why war is vital to the ongoing economy of the U.S. Empire.

In total, these 25 companies equate to an approximate Arms Sales Dollar: $234.6 Billion

This produces a Total Profit of: $99.25 Billion

Employing approximately: 2,011,320 personnel.

It isn’t difficult to see why these companies are now essential to the economy; and in turn war.

The following are from http://www.businessinsider.com.au/top-25-us-defense-companies-2012-2?op=1#22-navistar-defense-4 

1. Lockheed Martin

(Military aircraft programs)

The Real War Costs – The Military Industrial Complex

September 27th, 2014 | by hqanon

ECONOMY

3

Written by: Anonymous Watcher

A journalism show aired on HBO for its second season this year, covered a report on the accountability of the American taxpayer funding the U.S. forces in Afghanistan, and the related funding over the past 12 years. The show is interesting to watch as it outlines the cost of the equipment and projects, and the fraud and corruption involved. The scale is mindboggling.

From military aid for Kabul’s fight against the Taliban, to helicopters equipped by Washington, which largely don’t work, according to Cavanaugh in his article examining the waste of the American dollar in Afghanistan and Iraq, the question is raised about the U.S world role, and overall cost. Take the helicopters for example. They are repaired by U.S. contractors Kabul can’t afford to pay without U.S aid. Few pilots are able to fly them, unless trained and paid by the U.S. If they are operational. 

It encompasses the emergence of a permanent war establishment. Kabul is the tip of a very deep iceberg. According to those like Cavanaugh, this establishment has created an apathy toward foreign policy and military waste of this magnitude. Cavanaugh states,

“What were relatively tiny or non-existent industries before World War II, are today corporate monstrosities with huge public-relations departments that line the pockets of executives, shareholders, politicians and employees across the country. Eisenhower’s warning about the military-industrial complex has clearly come to pass.” [1]

The magnitude I write of is in the trillions of dollars. According to a Harvard study in 2013, the U.S. has spent close to $2 trillion in just Afghanistan and Iraq. The likelihood of this being closer to 6 trillion is more accurate after accounting for scenarios such as disability payments and medical care for veterans.

“As a consequence of these wartime spending choices, the United States will face constraints in funding investments in personnel and diplomacy, research and development and new military initiatives,” the report says. “The legacy of decisions taken during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars will dominate future federal budgets for decades to come…historically, the bill for these costs has come due many decades later…Payments to Vietnam and the First Gulf War veterans are still climbing.”[2]

The outrage lies within the auditing process of the Pentagon. It is the only federal agency not required by law to submit to an annual audit. Since 1996, the audits designed to hold the Pentagon accountable for action and spending, ceased. Here are some figures to ponder:

• $8.5 trillion U.S tax funded is unaccounted for since 1996.[3]
• $9 billion lost and unaccounted for in Iraq; and
• $549.7 billion lost in unaccounted for or stolen equipment [4]
• $5.8 billion (2003-2011) in supplies lost, leaving army units at warfronts without critical life-saving equipment; and
• $1.59 trillion in errors in the Pentagon’s Defense Finance and Accounting Service with a further $538 billion in “plugs” or rampant practice of fraud. [5]

War profiteering is not a new term. But since post WWII, and more so, Post 9/11, the Military-Industrial Complex has grown into its own insurmountable empire, where U.S. blood is exchanged for oil in a society where the middle class is suffocating and disappearing.

War costs until 2011 – Image Credit: teluguvartalu.com

Joachim Hagoplan, a West Point graduate and former Army Officer, who now works as a licensed therapist and author, sums up the expenditure versus loss of life:

“The name of the game is theft. From absurdly overpriced equipment to constant change orders resulting from missing or stolen supplies that “justify” multiplying profit many times over, to sweetheart no-bid contracts, to the bribery of buying off corrupt politicians, to the generals prostituting to Congress for special war toys often enough not needed, to the retired generals becoming arms whores themselves, to products of inferior design that fail to promise on its hype – the war business is an ugly circulating cesspool of the most evil players.”[6]

 Actual (2014) war costs regarding ‘only’ Syria – Image Credit: zerohedge.com

I pose a question: how long can this unsustainable act of wasted dollars continue, before the inevitable U.S Empire economic collapse occurs?

_________________________________________________________________

Sources: 

[1] Jeffrey Cavanaugh (24 March 2014) “Corruption, Fraud, and Waste – The Fruits of American Empire.” Mint Press News. (Retrieved 23 Sept 2014) http://www.mintpressnews.com/corruption-fraud-and-waste-the-fruits-of-american-empire/187264/

[2] Ernerto Londono (28 March 2013) “Study: Iraq, Afghan War Costs to Top $4 Trillion.” The Washington Post. (Retrieved 22 September 2014) http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/study-iraq-afghan-war-costs-to-top-4-trillion/2013/03/28/b82a5dce-97ed-11e2-814b-063623d80a60_story.html

[3] (18 November 2013) “8.5 Trillion Taxpayer Money Doled Congress Pentagon Since 1996 Never Accounted.” Washington Blog.com http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2013/11/8-5-trillion-taxpayer-money-doled-congress-pentagon-since-1996-never-accounted.html (Retrieved 25 September 2014)

[4] (1 Feb 2014)“Iraq War Statistics” http://www.statisticbrain.com/iraq-war-statistics/ (Retrieved 25 September 2014)

[5] Jonathan Turley (19 November 2013) “Pentagon Plugs: New Study Finds Pentagon has Hidden Trillions in Missing Money and Equipment.” http://jonathanturley.org/2013/11/19/pentagon-plugs-new-study-finds-pentagon-has-hidden-trillions-in-missing-money-and-equipment/ (Retrieved 25 September 2014)

[6] Joachim Hagoplan (29 April 2014) “War For Profit: Does the Waste Ever End?” Global Research. (Retrieved 24 September 2014)  http://www.globalresearch.ca/war-for-profit-does-the-waste-ever-end/5379698

MH17: Malaysia’s Barring from Investigation Reeks of Cover-up By Ulson Gunnar Global Research, November 29, 2014 New Eastern Outlook

It was a Malaysian jet, carrying Malaysian passengers, flown by Malaysian pilots, yet after Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine in July 2014, Malaysia has been systematically blocked from participating in the investigation, leaving an overwhelmingly pro-NATO bloc in charge of the evidence, investigation and outcome as well as the manner in which the investigation will be carried out.

Despite the integral role Malaysia has played during several pivotal moments in the aftermath of the disaster, it appears that the closer to the truth the investigation should be getting, the further Malaysia itself is being pushed from both the evidence and any influence it has on the likely conclusions of the investigation. With the downed aircraft in question being Malaysian, Malaysia as a partner in the investigation would seem a given. Its exclusion from the investigation appears to be an indication that the investigation’s objectivity has been compromised and that the conclusions it draws will likely be politically motivated.

Joint Investigation Team Includes, Excludes Surprising Members 

With the Dutch leading the investigation, the logic being that the flight originated from the Netherlands and the majority of the passengers were Dutch, it has formed a Joint Investigation Team (JIT). At the onset of its creation it seemed obvious that Malaysia would too be included, considering it lost the second largest number of citizens to the disaster and the plane itself was registered in Malaysia. Instead, JIT would end up comprised of Belgium, Ukraine, and Australia, specifically excluding Malaysia.

Malaysia was both surprised and has protested its exclusion from JIT, and has repeatedly expressed a desire to be included directly in the investigation.

Malaysia’s Star newspaper would report, “Malaysian Ambassador to the Netherlands Datuk Dr Fauziah Mohd Taib said Malaysia had not been invited to officially join the Dutch-led Joint Investigation Team (JIT), which is undertaking the criminal probe.” It would also report that, “Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said recently that Malaysia had expressed its stand very clearly that it must be part of the criminal investigation team and had informed Dutch authorities of its intention.”

The Malaysian Insider cited Malaysian scholar Dr. Chandra Muzaffar who believes the decision to exclude his country from the investigation is politically motivated, aiming at excluding members that may urge caution and objectivity instead of draw conclusions first and bend the investigation’s results around those conclusions. In particular, Dr. Muzaffar believes that the investigations is intentionally being skewed to target Russia.

Ukraine’s involvement in the investigation is particularly troublesome. Had MH17 crashed in Ukraine under different circumstances, Ukraine’s role would be welcome. However, it was apparently shot down specifically in a conflict in which Kiev itself is a participant. With both sides of the conflict possessing anti-aircraft weapons and with Kiev itself confirmed to possess weapons capable of reaching the altitude MH17 was flying at when it was allegedly hit, Kiev becomes a possible suspect in the investigation. Kiev’s inclusion in JIT represents a monumental conflict of interest.

Imagine a potential suspect leading an investigation into a crime they may have committed. The possibilities to cover up, skew, spin, tamper with or otherwise distort both the evidence and the outcome of the investigation are endless.

And to compound this already glaring conflict of interest, it was revealed recently that an alleged “secret deal” was struck by JIT in which any member could bar the release of evidence. With all members of JIT being pro-NATO and decidedly arrayed against Moscow, such a “deal” could prevent crucial evidence from being revealed that would effect an otherwise distorted conclusion drawn by the investigators aimed specifically at advancing their greater political agenda in Eastern Europe. Had Malaysia been a member of JIT, the ability of other members to withhold evidence would have been greatly diminished and it is likely such a bizarre deal would not have been conceivable, real or imaged, in the first place.

Malaysia’s Exclusion Foreshadows Politically Motivated Outcome 

With the ongoing conflict in Ukraine perceived as a proxy war between NATO and Moscow, JIT’s membership including the NATO-backed Kiev regime itself (a possible suspect), two NATO members (Belgium and the Netherlands) and Australia who has passed sanctions against Russia over the conflict, is a textbook case of conflict of interest.

Those nations and international organizations calling for an investigation and for justice but who ignore the obvious problem of participants in a conflict investigating a key incident that may benefit their agenda directly, indicates that such calls for justice are disingenuous and instead, what is being done is not an investigation, but a politically motivated witch-hunt aimed at serving an ulterior motive.

Malaysia is not generally perceived to be a stanch ally of Moscow, but it is neither a loyal client state of Washington, London or Brussels. On many issues, Malaysia has exhibited an independence in foreign policy that has perturbed the so-called international order maintained by the West. And Malaysia’s internal politics have long wrestled to stem inroads by Washington’s favorites including Anwar Ibrahim and his political faction, Pakatan Rakyat.

Its inclusion in the investigation would provide a much needed, impartial counterweight to an otherwise fully pro-NATO JIT membership.

To casual observers, the current investigation led by NATO members and Kiev, a possible suspect, would be no different than the Donetsk People’s Republic and Russia leading it. Few would consider a DPR or Russian led investigation impartial, and few should see a NATO-led investigation as impartial. Had Malaysia been included in the process, an argument could have been made that an actual investigation was taking place rather than a complex propaganda campaign.

Malaysia’s exclusion is a troubling sign for the victims of the MH17 disaster, meaning the true culprits will never be known. The overt politically motivated nature of the investigation will on one hand  help fuel NATO’s propaganda war, but on the other hand, fuel the doubts of millions worldwide over the true events that took place in the skies of eastern Ukraine that day. Like so many other events in human history that took place amid a high stake political struggle, the downing of MH17 will be shrouded in mystery, mystery draped over the truth by the irresponsible leadership of NATO, and those in Washington, London and Brussels egging on the conflict in Ukraine to this very day.

Hold up your end of bargain, Khairy tells non-Malays The Malay Mail Online

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 26 ― The non-Malays must do their part and honour the pledges of their ancestors when they were granted citizenship during the formation of the country, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said today.

He said Malaysia's multi-cultural society has long been guided by the social contract drawn up between the Malays and the Chinese and Indian communities who opted to take up citizenship in the early days of the country’s formation.

“However, why are there still those who do not respect this agreement? If the Malays can accept it by not raising the matter of citizenship and acknowledging that we cannot shut down vernacular schools, why are there those among non-malays who refuse to honour what they have previously agreed upon?” Khairy said in his policy speech at the start of the party wing's general assembly.

“Why are there those who ask for the Malay special privileges to be stopped, those who dispute the position of the Malay rulers and even those who cannot speak a word of the national language?” he continued.

If the Malays remain steadfast in their principles of upholding the agreement, the non-Malays should then do the same and hold up their end of the bargain, Khairy said.

“Never again dispute what has been agreed upon. We are not demanding that they give up what they already have, but merely to keep to what we all have agreed together,” he said.

Despite a clutch of “fringe voices” who continue to challenge the country’s recognition of mother tongue education, Khairy said there is no threat to vernacular schools in Malaysia.

Even Umno president and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has made it a point to provide special allocations for vernacular schools every year under the national budget, he added.

“It is already forged in the laws of the land and not even the Minister of Education can change the fate of the vernacular schools,” Khairy said.

The youth leader lamented that despite efforts to promote national integration over the years, there are still many who have a poor command of Bahasa Malaysia as the national language.

Homing in on school leavers drafted into National Service, Khairy said many from vernacular schools were found to be unable to converse in Malay.

“Vernacular schools should be continued but we have to do something to strengthen national unity in this country. Everyone should be part of this process of integration, and not remain in their silos.

“Show a bit of love for your country. Do not grumble about it if you refuse to stand when the Negaraku plays around you. Show the world that we are not divided by our ethnic silos, we are the citizen of Malaysia!” he said.

Claiming Malays under siege, Khairy says time for patience is over

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 26 — Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin called on Malays today to rise and defend themselves from an onslaught of insults and challenges to their special position in the country, declaring that the country’s majority ethnic group has been patient enough.

Scoffing at a recent statement by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng who had called Khairy “racist” over the content of his policy speech at the start of Umno youth wing’s general assembly this morning, the Umno minister said the DAP leader was mistaken in thinking that there is nobody questioning the rights of the Malays.

“Right after that I read that statement, I went on Twitter and immediately there are these posts questioning DBKL’s decision to rename several roads after our previous Yang Di-pertuan Agongs, who were the leaders of all Malaysians,” he said, referring to Kuala Lumpur City Hall by its Malay initials.

“One post read, ‘What is the Agong’s contribution that they need to be given such an honour? At least Karpal Singh contributed to the people’,” he said in his winding up speech, eliciting jeers from Umno Youth delegates.

“In Penang they renamed a road to Jalan Karpal Singh, and nobody made any noise... when they say nobody is challenging, I open Twitter and I immediately see all this... this is proof that if we don’t rise and defend our race, religion and country, we will be ridiculed,” Khairy added.

Earlier today, Lim issued a statement criticising Khairy for playing up racial sentiments at the expense of the country’s minorities at the on-going Umno general assembly instead of focusing on pressing issues, such as the economy.

The DAP secretary-general said it was “dishonest and evil politics” for Khairy to make “false and malicious” claims that non-Malays had questioned the rights of the Malays as enshrined in the Federal Constitution.

In his policy speech this morning, Khairy said it is only fair that the non-Malays reciprocate the Malay community’s decision to honour their side of the bargain under the “social contract” by continuing to recognise the rights of the non-Malays as citizens.

Khairy, in his evening speech, stressed that the Malays have always been at the forefront in defence of all Malaysians against insults and attacks, regardless of race or religion.

Describing the Malays as an “honourable race”, he said the Malays have kept their cool even after being called racist for defending themselves from similar attacks.

“We have endured this for so long. Beware, when our pride is challenged... Malays are not ones to be challenged or insulted. We take care of this country for all Malaysians, but don’t question our rights,” he said.

Khairy, meanwhile, urged all Umno Youth members to get straight to work in pushing the party “rejuvenation” agenda mooted by Umno president and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, to shed the perception that the wing members are only “waiting on projects, sitting in hotel lobbies and smoking cigars”.

Khairy said the onus is on them to prove to the party’s top tier that they are ready to take on the mantle of leadership and reclaim whatever ground lost over the two past national polls.

“We want to prove to the party leadership, that this is not just empty talk. We must show that we are ready and that we have done our work... don’t just ask for it. We must prove we are qualified to be given a place” in the main party, he said.

TOTAL VISITORS FROM 2008: 

SELAMAT BERSIDANG UMNO

Nov25th
201420 CommentsWritten by chedet

1. Perutusan ini ditulis kerana saya tidak dapat hadir di Mesyuarat Agong UMNO kerana berada di luar negara. Tetapi kerana saya kurang sihat untuk keluar negara, saya mungkin hadir Insya’allah! Walaubagaimanapun saya ingin membuat kenyataan ini juga.

2. Sebagai orang tua, dan orang tua UMNO pula, izinkanlah saya memberi sedikit pandangan.

3. Semua tahu UMNO sekarang tidak popular seperti UMNO dahulu. Ada yang berkata UMNO tidak lagi relevan.

4. Sedikit sebanyak pandangan ini berasas. Jika UMNO dikalahkan dan hilang dari muka bumi, kepimpinan dan ahli UMNO tidak boleh nafi sumbangan mereka kepada kejatuhan parti yang begitu berjasa kepada Melayu dan negara Malaysia.

5. Apakah kesalahan yang telah dilakukan oleh pemimpin dan ahli UMNO?

6. Pada pandangan saya, yang pertama ialah kerana menganggap UMNO sebagai batu loncatan untuk perkaya diri sendiri.

7. UMNO hanya menerima ahli baru yang tidak mengancam kedudukan pemimpin yang sedia ada di semua peringkat.

8. Cawangan tidak terima sesiapa yang berkebolehan mencabar Ketua Cawangan. Ini adalah oleh kerana ada habuan bagi Ketua Cawangan.

9. Oleh itu yang dapat masuk UMNO hanyalah orang Melayu yang kurang berbakat daripada Ketua Cawangan. Apabila Ketua Cawangan meninggal, penggantinya ialah orang yang lebih lemah daripadanya.

10. Pengganti pun demikian. Hanya yang tidak punyai kebolehan yang lebih daripadanya sahaja yang diterima. Apabila dia kembali ke rahmatullah, yang mengganti lebih lagi lemah.

11. Dan seterusnya. Kepimpinan di peringkat cawangan dan bahagian semakin lama semakin lemah dan tidak berupaya memimpin. Sebab itulah apabila ditanya siapa yang akan jadi Menteri Besar Selangor jika Barisan Nasional menang, tidak ada jawapan. Walhal Selangor penuh sesak dengan Melayu yang terpelajar, berbakat, sudah kaya dan tidak perlu memperalatkan UMNO untuk perkaya diri sendiri. Mereka ini tidak boleh masuk UMNO. Yang sedikit yang dapat masuk akan disekat kenaikan sebagai pemimpin.

12. Budaya war lord (kepala perang) sudah meresap kedalam UMNO. “UMNO saya punya.” “ Bahagian ini saya punya.”

13. Kerana kecewa ada yang berbakat dan berjiwa UMNO menyertai parti lain. Maka akan merosotlah UMNO dan akan hilanglah parti keramat ini.

14. Yang kedua ingin saya tekan akan pentingnya menegur pemimpin. Tunku, Tun Razak, Tun Hussein bukan sahaja ditegur bahkan dicabar. Saya diserang dan hampir kalah dalam pertandingan.

15. Tanpa teguran pemimpin akan percaya segala yang dilakukan olehnya betul belaka. Tetapi sebenarnya ada yang dilakukan olehnya salah dan tidak baik.

16. Saya dinasihat supaya tidak membuat teguran terbuka. Sebenarnya sudah saya tegur secara tertutup berkali-kali, terutama berkenaan masalah Bumiputra dan UMNO. Tetapi tidak berkesan. Teguran secara terbuka terpaksalah dibuat.

17. Harapan orang Melayu ialah wakil-wakil ke Perhimpunan UMNO akan buat teguran terhadap beberapa perkara yang hangat dibincang ramai sekarang.

18. Pemimpin pula perlu dengar teguran ini dan ambil berat pandangan wakil. Janganlah selalu mendengar orang tertentu yang dikeliling kita sahaja. Yang mengeliling orang yang berkuasa tidak baik bagi mereka.

19. Orang Melayu mungkin tidak pandai seperti pakar-pakar rujuk, tetapi saya percaya orang Melayu tidak bodoh. Mereka yang membangunkan negara dari sebuah negara miskin kepada negara yang memberi banyak nikmat kepada semua.

20. Selamat Bersidang UMNO. Mudah-mudahan diberi petunjuk oleh Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala.

Criticise Umno leadership at assembly, Dr M tells delegates The Malaysian Insider

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has called on Umno delegates to be critical and speak their minds at its assembly which begins tomorrow if the party is to survive and move forward.

He said Umno members must be brave in openly criticising their leaders, including their presidents, said Dr Mahathir, who was, at one time, the party’s longest serving president.

“Everyone knows that Umno now is not as popular as before. There are those who say Umno is not relevant.

“If Umno is defeated and wiped off the face of the earth, its leaders and members cannot deny that they had contributed to the downfall of the party that has done a lot for Malays and Malaysia,” said  Dr Mahathir in a posting in his blog chedet.cc.

His message to Umno leaders and members comes a day before the country’s largest party is scheduled to hold its 68th assembly in Kuala Lumpur beginning November 26.

Dr Mahathir staunchly criticised Umno members in the past, and had gone on record to withdraw his support for president Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, who is also the country’s prime minister.

He said he did this after his recommendations to Najib fell on deaf ears.

Dr Mahathir’s most recent criticism  was aimed at Najib’s policy of giving out cash transfers such as the People Aid Scheme and his management of debt-ridden sovereign wealth fund, 1Malaysia Development Berhad.

In calling for Umno members to be critical, Dr Mahathir said he himself had been openly criticised and even came close to losing the presidency.

The same, he said, happened to Umno’s first president Tunku Abdul Rahman, and his successors, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein and Tun Hussein Onn.

“Without criticism, leaders will believe everything they do is correct. But in reality, it may be wrong.”

Dr Mahathir also touched on his fallout with Najib, although he did not explicitly mention Najib’s name.

“I was advised to not criticise openly. In reality, I had given my criticisms repeatedly behind closed doors, especially on Bumiputera and Umno problems.

“But it did not work. So I am forced to criticise openly.”

Dr Mahathir also said the "warlord culture" among Umno branch and division leaders corrupted the party to the point where bright and talented members got sidelined.

This has led to the party’s grassroots's structure being dominated by mediocre leaders, he said.

“Umno only accepts new members who do not threaten the position of their leaders at all levels. Branches do not accept those who can challenge the position of branch leaders.

“This is because there are rewards for being branch leaders.

“These branch leaders are then only replaced by weaker and mediocre successors as they are the only type of people the leadership accepts.

“That is why when the question crops up, ‘Who will be Selangor menteri besar if Barisan Nasional wins?', there is no answer... even though Selangor is full of educated and talented Malays who do not have to use Umno to enrich themselves.

“These people are barred from entering Umno. Those who make it in are barred from climbing up as leaders.

“Because of this disappointment, those who have talent are going into other parties. Umno will fade and this sacred party will fade away.” – November 25, 2014.

The Downing of Flight MH17: Why is Malaysia Not Part of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT)? By Chandra Muzaffar

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Why is Malaysia not in the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) probing the MH 17 crash of July 17 2014?

Aren’t there guidelines that spell out which parties should constitute the probe team in the event of a disaster of the magnitude of MH 17? As the owner of MH 17 it is logical and sensible that Malaysia is part of the probe. Malaysia has more rights to be in the JIT than some of its present members. One can understand why Ukraine is in the team since that is where the plane was shot from the sky. We can understand the Netherlands’ membership of the JIT since the flight originated from Amsterdam. But why is Belgium in the JIT? Is it because Brussels is the administrative capital of the European Union and the EU may have some aviation responsibilities over commercial flights in the continent? If that is the case, then it is the EU, not Belgium, which should have a place in the team. What about Australia? Is it a member of the probe because a large number of Australians were killed in that tragedy? If that is the consideration, then Malaysia should also be in the JIT since 43 of our citizens were killed, the second largest number after the Dutch, 193 of whom perished in the calamity. Perhaps the Unites States should also be included since Boeing is the manufacturer of the aircraft.

It is alleged that Malaysia has been excluded from the JIT because we have not pointed a finger at Russia as the cause of the MH 17 disaster as the four members of the JIT have done. Malaysia refuses to heap blame on Russia or pro-Russia rebels in Eastern Ukraine, or anyone else for that matter, without hard, incontrovertible evidence. Neither the Ukraine government nor the US Administration has been able to offer such evidence to the public. Comprehensive military data from satellite images of the incident would have convinced a lot of people.

Instead, right from the outset, the Ukraine, the US and a number of their allies have constructed a narrative about how pro-Russia rebels in Eastern Ukraine shot down MH 17 with a Buk system supplied by Russia — a narrative which has been widely disseminated through a biased global media that has raised no questions about the motives behind such an action or who would have benefitted from it. In the meantime, the anger generated by this mass murder in the skies especially in Europe has enabled certain parties to expand and reinforce their economic sanctions against Russia.

Given this situation, Malaysia is absolutely right in adopting a principled position on MH 17 which refrains from condemning any party until all the investigations have been completed. This is why we are insisting upon total access to the crash site to enable investigators to collect all relevant evidence. Malaysia is also demanding that it be given a seat in the JIT.

It is a demand that undoubtedly has the support of the entire nation. One hopes that the UMNO general assembly — the annual meeting of the party that is the backbone of the government — which will take place from 25 to 29 November 2014, adopts a resolution that endorses this demand. Since the Malaysian Parliament is also in session, it should lend its weight to a demand which is at the heart of our integrity and sovereignty as a nation.

Most of all, ours is a just demand. It is just not only because MH 17 is ours. It is just because we have a fair and balanced approach to the tragedy and its probe. We want the entire truth to be known. Our participation in the investigation will at least help to check any attempt to conceal or camouflage the real story behind one of the most heinous crimes in recent times.

Dr. Chandra Muzaffar is prominent Malaysian scholar and author, President of the International Movement for a Just World (JUST).